Vamp easer



June 19, 1928-. 1,674,500

T. CARTER VAMP EASER Filed April 27, 1927 avwwwoz THEODORE CARTER euro/WW Patented June 19, 1-928.

THEODORE CARTE or VALLEY srrn-EAM, NEW'YORK.

VAMP TEASER;

Application filed April 27,

This invention relates to means for stretching the vamp throat of a shoe to adjust it to the individual instep.

, An object of the invention is to provide an adjustable tool for stretchingthe vamp throat of a shoe without altering the size or symmetrical appearance of the shoe.

The invention is particularly adapted for stretching the vamp throat of pumps which comprise a large percentage of all womens shoes. These shoes are made on various patterns such as opera pumps, which employ no fasteners to holdthemon the foot,and

strap pumps which are held on the foot by means of straps passing over the instep or ankle and fastened by means of buttons, buckles or other fastening devices.

In wearing shoes of this type the edge of the vamp is forced by the foot from its original line and often tends to cut or press on the foot, thereby subjecting the wearer to discomfort ranging from {a mild irritation to an excruciating pain in an extreme case. This condition is due partly-to the improper design and measurement of, shoes and partly to the marked dissimilarity in feet which must be fitted with shoes ,of standard sizes. Some feet are fleshy while others are thin, and in the bony formation some .insteps rise abruptly .while others. re-- cede from the lines of the shoe pattern.

Heretofore, attempts have been made to relieve the'tension at the vamp throat by using ordinary shoe stretchers such asare, commonly employed tost-retch shoes across the ball region of the vamp. These tools are unsuited for this work because they enlarge the entire vamp and change the shape and symmetry of the shoebefore any ap-' preciable stretching is noticed at the vamp throat. As a last resort, shoe'dealers sometimes alter the-line of the vamp cutting and rebinding or restitching as the case may be,

which at best gives the appearance of a repair job.

The present invention provides a simple and eflicient tool for easing the tension at the vamp throat without stretching other parts of a shoe. This tool includes a heel piece which is inserted in the heel seat of a shoe and a stretching block which is inserted under the vamp throat. 'T he stretching block has an inclined front surface which is transversely rounded to conform generally to the contour of the vamp'throat. 1a

1927, Serial No. 186,974..

the vamp throat and pushes it forward'at the same time, thereby stretching it evenly without stretching other parts of the shoe. In. its preferred form the tool includes as a third element a stiffening piece which is insorted. in the forepartgof the shoe to hold down the outersole and provide, a smooth elevated sliding surface for the base of the stretching block. The base of the stretching block is preferably shaped. to rock on the stiffening piece as itis moved forward. I

The, invention will be'described in detail in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which: I i v Fig.1 is a longitudinal sectionof a tool embodying the invention showing the several parts in normal use ina shoe; and v Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the several parts of the tool in the position in which they are inserted in a shoe.

In the drawing the tool isshown in its preferred form. comprising a stretching block 1, a heel piece 2, and a smooth stiffening piece 3 shaped. like a half sole. These parts may be made of wood or any other suitable material. The stretching block 1 has a-slopingfront surface awhich projects above the vamp throat 5 and recedes sharply in the direction of the ball region of the vamp. The sloping surface 4 is transversely rounded to conform substantially to the contourof the vamp throat. The under surface of the bloclrl is preferably tapered in the manershown to provide a rocking base portion 6. 1 U n j The heel piece 2 comprises a narrow obs shoe and is provided with a rounded end ,7 adapted to rest against the counter 8 in the heel seat of the shoe. The sides of the heel piece 2 arecut away at 9 to prevent contact with the flexible sides of the shoe. The adjusting mechanism comprises an elongated screw 10 having a threaded end which extends through a nut 11 in the front face of the heel piece 2 and freely enters a chamber 12 which extends longitudinally through the center of the heel piece. The forward end 9 long-block which 15 freely insertable 1n the The stretching. bloc-k ismoved forward by of the screw 10 terminates in a blunt rounded 1 head 13 which is loosely received by a socket in the rear face of the stretching block 1. The screw 10 is adjusted by means of an integral thumb piece 15 of any suitable form.

In using the tool to stretch the vamp throat of a shoe the stiffening piece 3 is first placed inside the forepart of the shoe in the manner shown in Fig. 1. The stretching block 1 is then inserted under the vamp throat with the rocking base 6 resting on the smooth up per surface of the stiffening piece 3. The heel piece 2 is then placed in the heel seatof the shoe with its rounded end 7 resting snugly in the counter 8. The thumb piece 15 is grasped with the thumb and forefingerand turned so that the rounded head 13 of the adjusting screw enters the socket 14 and forces the stretching block 1 forward until the desired tension is obtained. The base of the counter 8 at the heel seat of the shoe is very stiff and unyielding in its construction and hence when pressure is exerted on the line aa of Fig. 1 between the vamp throat and the base of the heel seat the vamp throat must yield. When the adjusting screw 10 is turned in the proper direction the stretching block 1 is moved forward with a slight upward thrust caused by the rocking movement of the block as it slides forward on the stiffening piece 3. The rounded sloping surface 1 of the stretching block 1 is thus wedged underneath the vamp throat and stretches the vamp throat uniformly without distorting the ball region or collar of the shoe. Since no pressure is exerted on other flexible portions of the shoe there is no'tendency toward distortion. The stiffening piece 3, in addition to furnishing an elevated smooth sliding surface for the stretching block 1, firmly holds the outer sole of the shoe down as the stretching block is moved forward and thus prevents crushing and wrinkling of the vamp material during the stretching operation.

The features shown but not claimed in this application form part of my copending application Serial No. 219,862, filed Sept. 16, 1927fVa1np easer.

The invention claimed is 1. A vamp ease-r comprising a heel piece,

a forwardly tilting easer block formed to engage only the vamp throat and adjusting means having one end cooperating with the heel piece and the other end separate from but adapted to bear against the rear face of said block to move it forward against the vamp while permitting relative movement between the block and the adjusting means.

2. A vamp e'aeer comprising a heel piece, a forwardly tilting easer block formed to en gage only the vamp throat and an adjusting screw having one end acting in said heel piece and the other end separate from but adapted to bear against the rear face of the bl ck to move it forward while permitting relative movement between the block and the screw. i

0. A vamp easer comprisii'ig a block insertable in the forepart of a shoe and'having a rocking base portion for supporting it thereon and a front surface shaped to enonly the throat of the vamp and a. socket in the rear face oft the bloclga heel piece insertable in the heel of the shoe, an adjusting screw having one end acting in said heel piece and another blunt and rounded end separate from but'adapted to seat against the end of the socket to move the block forward while permitting relative movement between the block and the screw. i. A vamp easer comprising a heel piece, a forwardly tilting aser block formed to engage only the vamp throat, said block and heel piece having recesses in their adjacent faces, a socket member in the recess in said block and a nut inthe recess in said heel piece, an adjusting screw cooperating with said nut and extending into the recess in said heel piece, one end of said screw being blunt and adapted to be moved forward and brought to bear against the end of the socket member in said block to move it forward, the engagement of the screw with the block when operated permitting relative movement between the block and the screw.

Signed at New York'in the county of New York and State of New York this 21st day of April A. D. 1927.

THEODORE CARTER. 

